Book cover

ABSTRACT

A partly preformed book cover or protector that may be snugly mounted to hooks of different thickness is formed of an integral sheet of transparent plastic having cover receiving pockets at opposite edges and having a deep V-shaped score line extending across the outside surface of the protector sheet, and a strip of adhesive fixed to its surface adjacent the score line. The integral sheet of protector material is mounted to a book by separating it into primary and secondary parts along the score line, inserting the book covers into the protector sheet pockets, and drawing the primary part around the outer surface of the spine of the book. The primary part is drawn along the second of the book covers and over the secondary part of the protector sheet by an amount sufficient to snugly fit and secure both protector parts to the book. The adhesive strip is then used to secure the primary and secondary protector parts to each other.

United I States Patent 1191 Du Corday BOOK COVER Gerard M. Du Corday, 10871 Thorley Rd, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705 [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 355,654

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 281/29 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gausewitz, Carr & Rothenberg 1 June 24, 1975 57 ABSTRACT A partly preformed book cover or protector that may be snugly mounted to hooks of different thickness is formed of an integral sheet of transparent plastic having cover receiving pockets at opposite edges and having a deep V-shaped score line extending across the outside surface of the protector sheet, and a strip of adhesive fixed to its surface adjacent the score line. The integral sheet of protector material is mounted to a book by separating it into primary and secondary parts along the score line, inserting the book covers into the protector sheet pockets, and drawing the primary part around the outer surface of the spine of the book. The primary part is drawn along the second of the book covers and over the secondary part of the protector sheet by an amount sufficient to snugly fit and secure both protector parts to the book. The adhesive strip is then used to secure the primary and secondary protector parts to each other.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BOOK COVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for protection of books and more particularly concerns simple, inexpensive and effective protection of books by means of a protector sheet that is readily adapted to books of different thickness.

2. Description of Prior Art Books that are subject to wide use and frequent handling are commonly provided with protectors that extent around the exterior of the book covers and around the spine of the book. Protection for the edges of the book covers is also important. Such protectors commonly include front and back cover receiving pockets and body portions extending over the outer face of the covers and over the spine of the book. Since books var not only in the width and length of their pages and covers but also in thickness, book protectors are often made in many different sizes, even though protectors made to receive a book having a predetermined page size will cover a number of different thicknesses of books. However, in order to receive books of varying thicknesses they must be made sufficiently large to receive a book of maximum thickness. Accordingly, such a protector will provide a poor fit and a highly unsatisfactory cover for a book for lesser thickness. The obvioius alternative is to make the book protectors in different sizes not only to accept books having different page sizes but also to accept books having the same page size but a different number of pages or a different thickness. Since the thickness of the book is more widely variable than the page size, it is readily apparent that the thickness variation of books requires a much greater number of different sizes of protectors than does the variation of page size.

Various types of book covers of multiple sizes or adjustable sizes are available but these all suffer from one or more of a number of disadvantages. Some adjustable covers are manufactured in two parts, thus greatly increasing problems of handling, storage and application. Some covers may require adhesion directly to the book, and thus, are time consuming to attach and difficult to remove. They may require trimming to fit books of different thickness, or they fail to provide protection for edges of the book covers. In an arrangement employing a cover receiving pocket on one side and a strap adjustably receiving the back cover, the protector flap must be further secured to the back cover, no protection is provided for edges of the back cover, and moreover, the protector is difficult to fit to a book without bulging of the back fold.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a book protector that may be made in a single size and yet readily accept and fully and neatly protect books having a wide variety of thicknesses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In carrying out principles of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, a book protector is made ofa single integral sheet of material having first and second cover receiving pockets and formed with means for both facilitating separation of the single sheet into primary and secondary parts along a predetermined separation line and providing a beveled and snag-proof edge of the finished cover. Securing means are mounted to the protector sheet adjacent the separation line so that when the protector sheet is separated into primary and secondary parts along the separation line, the book covers may be inserted into the respective protector sheet pockets and the primary and secondary parts snugly drawn over the covers of the books. The primary protector part is snugly drawn around one cover and the spine of the book and extends in overlapping relation over the secondary part of the protector in a mananer to snugly fit both primary and secondary parts in proper position. The two parts are then secured to each other by means of connecting means carried by the protector sheet. In a specific embodiment, the separating and edge forming means are provided by a deep V-shaped groove formed in an outer surface of the protector sheet and the securing means are followed by a strip of adhesive secured to the protector sheet closely adjacent the groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the inside ofa protector sheet embodying principles of the present invention, prior to separation of the sheet into its primary and secondary parts;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the sheet of FIG. 1 taken on the lines 22;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged detail of parts of the protector sheet showing the V-shaped score and parts of the adhesive strip;

FIG. 4 illustrates one step in application of the protector to a book;

FIG. 5 illustrates another step in application of the protector to a book;

FIG. 6 illustrates the protector sheet applied to a book in nearly final condition, and

FIG. 7 is a bottom edge view of a closed book having a protector of the present invention affixed thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a protector sheet embodying principles of the present invention is formed of a single integral sheet 10 of a suitable flexible and transparent plastic material having first and second ends 12, 14 to which first and second pocket forming flaps l6, 18 are secured, as by heat formed seams or joints 20, 22. The joints extend around the entire periphery of each pocket that is formed between the inner surface 23 of the sheet 10 and the pocket forming flaps l6, 18. The inner edges 24, 26 of flaps 16, 18 are free of securement to the sheet 10 so as to provide inwardly directed openings to receive the front edges of the covers of the books to be protected.

Although it is preferred to form the sheet 10 and flaps 16, 18 of a transparent flexible plastic material in order to best display ornamentation, printing and the like formed on the covers and spine of the book, it will be readily appreciated that other flexible materials may be employed, whether transparent, opaque or some combination thereof. Furthermore, other displays, designs or printing may be readily supplied to the protectors as may be deemed necessary or desirable for particular applications.

The integral sheet 10 has its strength attenuated along a line of separation 28. Preferably this attenuation is provided by forming a deep V-shaped groove in the outer surface 29 of the sheet, as best shown in FIG. 3. The groove has a bottom portion 30 along which the integral sheet 10 may be readily separated into a primary part 32, FIGS. 4 and 5, and a secondary part 34, FIGS. 5 and 6. Groove 28 has first and second sloping sides 36, 38, which form beveled edges of the primary and secondary protector parts when the latter are separated.

Closely adjacent the score line or V-shaped groove 28, is suitably secured, as by bonding or the like, a double adhesive strip 40. Preferably, the strip 40 is of the type including adhesive layers 41, 43 and has a removable protective layer 42 that will allow ready handling and sliding of the protector sheets, one upon the other without any adhesion of or by the adhesive strip 40 until the protective layer 42 is removed.

The adhesive strip 40 is preferably secured to the inner surface 23 of the primary section 32, although, as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, it may equally well be applied to the outer surface of the secondary part 34 on the other side of the V-shaped groove 28. An adhesive securing means such as the illustrated strip is preferred. However, it will be readily appreciated that other types of securing means may be employed without departing from principles of the present invention.

Both the V-shaped separation groove and the adhesive strip are positioned relatively close to the inner edge 26 of the pocket formed by flap l8 and, concomitantly, the groove and adhesive strip are positioned relatively distant from the inner edge 24 of the pocket forming flap 16. This latter distance is made as large as is conveniently possible in order to maximize the range of adjustability of the described protector sheet. In other words, the greater the difference between the lengths of (as measured horizontally in FIG. 1) the primary part 32 and the secondary part 34, the greater the range of adjustability of the protector sheet and the greater its range of adaptability to books of different thicknesses. A further advantage of the off-centered or asymmetrical position of the V-shaped groove and adhesive strip is the fact that even though the protector sheet and the adhesive may be transparent, the additional thickness of the adhesive strip may degrade the transparency. Thus, the adhesive strip should be located so that it does not cover the book spine. However, it will be readily appreciated that the strip may be located to cover selected areas of books of predetermined sizes as deemed necessary or desirable. In any event, the adhesive strip must be positioned closely continuous to and along the entire length of the free beveled edge 36 that is formed on the primary section when the two protector parts are separated.

The described protector sheets may be readily handled and stored in quantity in their flat integral condition illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Yet they may be quickly and readily neatly applied to books having an appropriate page size (dimension or format) but of any given thickness. If a greater range of adjustability or thickness variation of books of a given size to be expected, the overall length of the sheet 10 between edges 12 and 14 may be readily increased.

In application of the protector sheet of FIGS. 1 and 2 to a book, the primary and secondary parts are first separated along the bottom edge 30 of the V-shaped score line 28. Such separation may be readily accomplished with or without one or two folding motions of the two sections along the score line and then readily tearing along this line. The primary and secondary parts are then placed on the book covers with the protector part pockets receiving the front and back covers respectively. Either the primary or secondary part may be mounted first. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the primary section is first mounted and, preferably, to the front cover 45 ofa book 44, by sliding the cover 45 into the pocket formed between flap l6 and the inner surface of the primary part 32, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4. With the front cover 45 snugly and firmly secured and fully inserted into the primary part pocket, the secondary part 34 is then slid (as indicated by the arrow) over the back cover 46 of the book 44 until the cover 46 is received fully and completely into the full depth of the pocket formed between flat l8 and the inside of the secondary protector sheet part 34.

With the front and back covers of the book 44 fully seated into the full depth of the respective protector pockets, the book covers are closed or nearly closed and the body of primary part 32 is drawn tightly over and around the spine of the book to return over the back cover 46 where it extends into overlapping relation with respect to the outside of the secondary part I 34, as illustrated in FIG. 6. At this time, or previously if desired, the protective covering of the adhesive surface of strip 40 is removed and, while maintaining a suitable tension on the body of the primary part 32, the adhesive surface of the strip 40 is pressed against the outer surface of the secondary part 34. Now the protective cover has been completely applied with a close, snug and fully protective fit. An edge view of the book encased in a completed protective cover is shown in FIG. 7. The use and location of the V-shaped score to facilitate separation of the primary and secondary parts additional provides the snag proof beveled edge of the outer of the two overlapping protector parts, and, furthermore allows a smoother transition of the primary part over the beveled edge of the underlying secondary part.

If the books covers are partly opened during the securement of the primary and secondary sections of the protector sheet, the final protector may be too short to allow the covers to be completely closed. Preferably, the covers are completely or almost completely closed before the primary and secondary parts are joined and the sections are drawn tightly and snugly over the covers to ensure a fit that is proper but not restrictive of closing of the book.

There have been described a method and apparatus for protecting books of various thickness in which a single integral, premanufactured protector may be readily stored and handled as a flat sheet and yet, simply, quickly and effectively mounted in a snug, close fitting relation to a book of any selected thickness, and wherein all edges of the book cover are fully and completely protected against wear.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A custom fitted book protector for use with a book having front and back covers and a spine, comprising:

a. a protector sheet having inner and outer surfaces and having a score line for severing said protector sheet into first and second protector parts,

said score line being in said outer surface of said protector sheet and comprising a depth, V- shaped groove significantly attenuating the strength of said protective sheet, whereby when said protector sheet is severed along said groove into said first and second protector parts, said first and second protector parts will each have a beveled edge, said first protector part having a first pocket for receiving one of said book covers and having a first body section adapted to extend from the front of said book along the outside of said one cover and over and around said spine of said book, and including a return portion adapted to extend along the outside of the other of said covers, said first body section having an extent considerably greater than the extent of said first pocket, and terminating in an edge lying along a line intermediate to the front and back of said other cover, said edge initially being adjacent to said score line of said protector sheet and being beveled to slope toward said other cover and the front of said book, said second protector part having a second pocket for receiving said other book cover and having a second body section adapted to extend from the front of said book along the outside of said other cover toward said spine, said second body section having an extent slightly greater than the extent of said second pocket and terminating in an edge intermediate to the back of said other cover and the beveled edge of said first body section, whereby said return portion of said first body section overlaps said edge of said second body section for a portion of their common extend along said outside of said other cover when said first and second body sections are pulled tightly and closely along the outside of said covers of said book, said edge of said second body section initially being adjacent to said score line of said protector sheet and being beveled to slope from said other cover and toward the back of said book, and

b. adhesive means for interconnecting said overlapped areas of said first and second body sections,

comprising an adhesive strip secured to the inside of said first body section adjacent said beveled edge thereof,

said adhesive strip being adhesively secured to the outside of said overlapped area of said second body section, whereby said covers and spine of said book are covered by said first and second protector parts and whereby said beveled edge of said first body section provides a snag-proof joint between said first and second parts minimizing subsequent peeling of said adhesive interconnect1on.

2. The protector of claim 1 wherein said adhesive strip recited in clause 1(b) is slightly spaced from said beveled edge of said first protector body section whereby said beveled edge of said first body section projects slightly beyond said adhesive strip.

3. A protective cover which may be readily and closely fitted to books of different thicknesses, comprising:

a. a sheet of integral cover material having inner and outer surfaces, said sheet including a continuous transverse groove in said outer surface to facilitate separation of said sheet into primary and secondary parts along a predetermined line, said groove having at least one side thereof inclined upwardly and outwardly from the bottom of said groove toward the outer surface of said primary part, to thereby form a beveled edge of said primary part when said sheet is separatedinto said primary and secondary parts,

b. a first pocket adapted for receiving the front portion of a first book cover formed at a first end on the inside of said sheet and a second pocket adapted for receiving a second cover of, the book formed at a second end on the inside of said sheet, said pockets collectively extending for a distance considerably less than the total length of said sheet, said first pocket being within said primary part and said second pocket being within said secondary part,

c. securing means for connecting a surface of said primary part to a surface of said secondary part in overlapping relation, comprising an adhesive strip secured to the inside surface of said primary part adjacent to said groove of said sheet whereby said primary and secondary parts may be separated along said groove, the first and second covers of a book may be inserted in said first and second pockets respectively with said primary part extending along the outside of the first cover, around the spine of the book and along the outside of the second cover in overlapping relation to a portion of said secondary part, and whereby said primary part may be drawn snugly along and over and about said book and secured in said overlapped relation to said secondary part, and whereby said beveled edge of said primary part is pointed away from the spine of the book and provides a snag-proof joint between said primary and secondary parts.

4. The protective cover of claim 3 wherein said groove recited in clause 3(a) has a second upwardly and outwardly inclined side to form a beveled edge on said secondary part when said sheet is separated, whereby a smooth contour is provided in said primary part where said primary part overlaps said beveled edge of said secondary part to further provide a snag-proof joint between said primary and secondary parts.

5. The protective cover of claim 3 wherein said adhesive strip recited in clause 3(c) is slightly spaced from said beveled edge of said primary part whereby said beveled edge of said primary part projects slightly beyond said adhesive strip.

6. A method of protecting a book, comprising the steps of:

a. forming an integral protector sheet having inner and outer surfaces, a top and bottom, and first and second edges,

b. forming upon said inner surface of said protector sheet first and second cover receiving pockets opening inwardly of said protector sheet fromi is'aid first and second edges respectively, said pockets terminating in inwardly opening pocket edges,

c. forming a continuous V-shaped groove in said outer surface of said protector sheet along a line considerably closer to one of said pocket edges than the other, whereby the strength of said outer surface of said protector sheet is attenuated along said groove,

(1. securing an adhesive strip having a detachable protective surface thereon to said inner surface of said protector sheet along said groove at a side thereof toward said first pocket edge,

e. separating said protector sheet along said groove into primary and secondary parts having beveled edges formed by sides of said groove,

inserting first and second covers of a book to be protected into said first and second pockets, with said first and second parts of said protector sheet being drawn snugly along the outside of said covers,

g. drawing said primary part along one of said covers, around the spine of said book, over at least part of tween said primary and secondary parts.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 1 91,240 D ED I June 24, 1975 INVENT 1 Gerard M. Du Corday It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the claims, column 5, line 2 (claim 1, line 7), depth should be -deep-. In the claims, column 7, line 10 (claim 6, line 24), before "inserting", the paragraph should be designated as f. In the claims, column 8, line 3 (claim 6, line 33), "covers' should be ---cover-.

Signed and Sealed this twenty-first Day Of October 1975 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Parents and Trademarks 

1. A custom fitted book protector for use with a book having front and back covers and a spine, comprising: a. a protector sheet having inner and outer surfaces and having a score line for severing said protector sheet into first and second protector parts, said score line being in said outer surface of said protector sheet and comprising a depth, V-shaped groove significantly attenuating the strength of said protective sheet, whereby when said protector sheet is severed along said groove into said first and second protector parts, said first and second protector parts will each have a beveled edge, said first protector part having a first pocket for receiving one of said book covers and having a first body section adapted to extend from the front of said book along the outside of said one cover and over and around said spine of said book, and including a return portion adapted to extend along the outside of the other of said covers, said first body section having an extent considerably greater than the extent of said first pocket, and terminating in an edge lying along a line intermediate to the front and back of said other cover, said edge initially being adjacent to said score line of said protector sheet and being beveled to slope toward said other cover and the front of said book, said second protector part having a second pocket for receiving said other book cover and Having a second body section adapted to extend from the front of said book along the outside of said other cover toward said spine, said second body section having an extent slightly greater than the extent of said second pocket and terminating in an edge intermediate to the back of said other cover and the beveled edge of said first body section, whereby said return portion of said first body section overlaps said edge of said second body section for a portion of their common extend along said outside of said other cover when said first and second body sections are pulled tightly and closely along the outside of said covers of said book, said edge of said second body section initially being adjacent to said score line of said protector sheet and being beveled to slope from said other cover and toward the back of said book, and b. adhesive means for interconnecting said overlapped areas of said first and second body sections, comprising an adhesive strip secured to the inside of said first body section adjacent said beveled edge thereof, said adhesive strip being adhesively secured to the outside of said overlapped area of said second body section, whereby said covers and spine of said book are covered by said first and second protector parts and whereby said beveled edge of said first body section provides a snag-proof joint between said first and second parts minimizing subsequent peeling of said adhesive interconnection.
 2. The protector of claim 1 wherein said adhesive strip recited in clause 1(b) is slightly spaced from said beveled edge of said first protector body section whereby said beveled edge of said first body section projects slightly beyond said adhesive strip.
 3. A protective cover which may be readily and closely fitted to books of different thicknesses, comprising: a. a sheet of integral cover material having inner and outer surfaces, said sheet including a continuous transverse groove in said outer surface to facilitate separation of said sheet into primary and secondary parts along a predetermined line, said groove having at least one side thereof inclined upwardly and outwardly from the bottom of said groove toward the outer surface of said primary part, to thereby form a beveled edge of said primary part when said sheet is separated into said primary and secondary parts, b. a first pocket adapted for receiving the front portion of a first book cover formed at a first end on the inside of said sheet and a second pocket adapted for receiving a second cover of the book formed at a second end on the inside of said sheet, said pockets collectively extending for a distance considerably less than the total length of said sheet, said first pocket being within said primary part and said second pocket being within said secondary part, c. securing means for connecting a surface of said primary part to a surface of said secondary part in overlapping relation, comprising an adhesive strip secured to the inside surface of said primary part adjacent to said groove of said sheet whereby said primary and secondary parts may be separated along said groove, the first and second covers of a book may be inserted in said first and second pockets respectively with said primary part extending along the outside of the first cover, around the spine of the book and along the outside of the second cover in overlapping relation to a portion of said secondary part, and whereby said primary part may be drawn snugly along and over and about said book and secured in said overlapped relation to said secondary part, and whereby said beveled edge of said primary part is pointed away from the spine of the book and provides a snag-proof joint between said primary and secondary parts.
 4. The protective cover of claim 3 wherein said groove recited in clause 3(a) has a second upwardly and outwardly inclined side to form a beveled edge on said secondary part when said sheet is separated, whereby a smooth contour is provided in said primary part wheRe said primary part overlaps said beveled edge of said secondary part to further provide a snag-proof joint between said primary and secondary parts.
 5. The protective cover of claim 3 wherein said adhesive strip recited in clause 3(c) is slightly spaced from said beveled edge of said primary part whereby said beveled edge of said primary part projects slightly beyond said adhesive strip.
 6. A method of protecting a book, comprising the steps of: a. forming an integral protector sheet having inner and outer surfaces, a top and bottom, and first and second edges, b. forming upon said inner surface of said protector sheet first and second cover receiving pockets opening inwardly of said protector sheet from said first and second edges respectively, said pockets terminating in inwardly opening pocket edges, c. forming a continuous V-shaped groove in said outer surface of said protector sheet along a line considerably closer to one of said pocket edges than the other, whereby the strength of said outer surface of said protector sheet is attenuated along said groove, d. securing an adhesive strip having a detachable protective surface thereon to said inner surface of said protector sheet along said groove at a side thereof toward said first pocket edge, e. separating said protector sheet along said groove into primary and secondary parts having beveled edges formed by sides of said groove, inserting first and second covers of a book to be protected into said first and second pockets, with said first and second parts of said protector sheet being drawn snugly along the outside of said covers, g. drawing said primary part along one of said covers, around the spine of said book, over at least part of the other of said covers, and over said secondary part of said protector sheet until said primary part is a snug fit around said book covers and spine, with said covers in substantially closed condition, h. removing said detachable protective surface from said adhesive strip, and i. pressing the inner surface of the free edge of said primary part against the underlying outer surface of said secondary part to cause them to be adhered together by said adhesive strip, to thereby form a continuous book cover having a snag-proof, beveled edge exposed at the overlap connections between said primary and secondary parts. 